Scripture

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Observation-What does it say?

One night Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to visit Jesus in secret. Nicodemus surely realized through Jesus’ teachings and the miracles he performed, that Jesus was sent from God. What Nicodemus failed to realize was he was actually speaking to God in the flesh. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about things of God’s kingdom, God’s love for people, and God’s redemptive plan for mankind. It is a verse that echoes throughout believers to this day.

Understanding-What does it mean?

If there is one verse to memorize and share with others…

The gospel of John will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the first book of the Bible my father had me read when I was young. The verse that I chose today (John 3:16), was also the very first verse my dad had me memorize when I was a kid too. As a kid I could honestly say that when I memorized this verse, I just did it for the sake of memorizing it. They were just words to me. Then the more I went on in life, the more this verse seemed to follow me wherever I turned. I found it being referenced by the pastors who I listened to on Sunday mornings. I would hear it referenced on the radio stations in the car as my dad drove our family places. I even turned on the television to watch a sports game with my dad, and some fan would be holding a bright neon sign referencing this verse! God must have been trying to tell me something, and am I glad He did! All these “coincidences” of running into this verse wherever I went and whatever I did had me really question what this verse truly meant to me. 

The further I meditated and prayed over this verse, I realized just how much God loves me! No matter how sinful and unworthy I may be, He still loves me! He provided a way for me to spend eternity with Him. Others who may not understand the Christian faith see it as too much of a sacrifice on their part to leave their sinful lifestyle behind. But it is God, who sacrificed so much for us, that He was willing to die for us.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”-Romans 5:8 NIV

And it is through this act of love in which I choose to follow Jesus.  He is my redeemer.  He is my Lord and Savior.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”-John 3:17 NIV

Life Application

As a Christ-Follower, I need to be less judgmental, and more compassionate and loving with others.

Thank you Jesus for your grace, mercy, sacrifice, and love. I’m thankful to serve a God like you. Thank you for providing this world an opportunity to spend eternity with you in Heaven. Thank you for choosing me God. May you help me to share your redemptive plan with others who may not know it. Give me the words to speak to them in a way that they can understand, so that you may open their eyes and heart to it. I lift these prayers onto you Jesus, Amen.

-Moses Gaddi 

Scripture

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:10-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Observation-What does it say?

Paul is encouraging the church on how to live as a healthy Body of Christ. Paul states the reason Christ died for us, which is so that we could live TOGETHER with Him. We were not meant to live as an island and go through this journey of faith alone. We were meant to live TOGETHER in and with Christ. 

Understanding– What does it mean?

Christ died so that we would love Him, yes, but He also died so that we would love each other in regular fellowship and meeting together. He gave several instructions on what we were to do when we met together:

1. Encourage one another and build each other up.
2. Acknowledge those who work hard for us, care for us and admonish us in the Lord (aka our Pastors/Ministry Leaders).
3. Live in peace with each other.
4. Warn the idle and disruptive. 
5. Encourage the disheartened and help the weak. 
6. Be patient with everyone and don’t pay back wrong for wrong, but always do good to each other.
7. Pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances together.

Life Application

Choose 2 things from the above list to put into practice this week towards our brothers and sisters at DSC. 

During this July month of rest, even though we are scaling back from mission and ministry, let us not pull back from the family of God. Instead, let’s take the opportunity to draw closer to each other. I think it’s interesting that Paul’s exhortation to the church was focused on how to relate to and treat one another, beyond just ministering alongside each other. 

Dear Lord, thank you for our family at DSC. I pray that we would seek to operate as a healthy body of Christ and may it begin with me. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi

SCRIPTURE

 ¹ As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

OBSERVATION

UNDERSTANDING

He was not satisfied even with his own progress:

LIFE APPLICATION

Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 3:12-13  and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

Observation-What does it say?  Thessalonica is in the northern part of Greece.  It was a port city on the Aegean Sea, and was part of the trade route that went to present day Istanbul.  The church was founded by Paul, who spent a few weeks there after leaving Phillipi.  After he left, the Thessalonians were facing persecution from the local Jews.  The Jews were upset at the rate the church was growing, and that they were making converts of those interested in Judaism.

The opening three chapters of this book are very personal to Paul.  He is concerned for the church much like a mother would be of her children.  He reminds them of his time there, as some of the persecution came in the form of name calling by the Jews.  He goes on to praise them for their continued faith, and expresses relief at the testimony of their love for one another.  He then tells them of his prayers for them.  To overflow with love for one another and for those who are not in the church.

Understanding-What does it mean?  One of the hardest things that we have done as parents, so far, is sending our children off to school.  During the first days and weeks of kindergarten, our nerves were about as heightened as they could be.  We worried about if they were ready, if they were going to survive without us, and about how they would behave.  It is like the first real evaluation of your parenting skills.  We were fortunate enough to have the same kindergarten teacher for our first two boys.  There is no way to express how proud I felt when we sat down for parent teacher conference the second time through.  She looked at Jen and I and said, “You are raising some good kids.”  My heart just about jumped out of my chest.  And that really is my hope, to raise boys who are well behaved, loving, and willing to serve others.  

Paul is similar in his relationship to the churches he planted.  He wanted them to continue in their faith more than anything else.  He wanted them to have a love that was abundant and overflowing.  Most of all, he wanted them to know the real saving grace of Jesus’s death on the cross.  He also wanted the same message to spread from them, not just stay in the little circle of people who had heard the message while he was there.

Paul had the same message for other churches as well.  In Galatians 6:8-10 he wrote, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  Our behavior is sometimes overlooked in the process of sharing our testimony with the world.

In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.”

Life Application:  Jesus, help me to be slow to anger, as this is most likely to be one of the ways I turn people away from you.  Help me to be better at listening, so I can more fully understand the struggles that others are going through.  Let me also be sparing in the words that I offer to others, so I won’t offer anything that is contrary to your word.   

-Tyler Galloway

Scripture 

1 Chronicles 5:18   …who were trained for battle. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. 20 They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. 

22 and many others fell slain, because the battle was God’s.

Observation 

“The two tribes and a half who occupied the province east of the Jordan were naturally regarded with hostility or jealousy by their Arab neighbours. Conflicts arose, having reference especially to the possession of the rich pasture-lands.” – Commentary studylight.org

And so… the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish,and Nodab.

Understanding 

The enemy can’t stand to see that we get to live in “rich pasture-lands” feeding on every word that comes from the LORD, being led by the great shepherd Jesus Christ.

We are always on the alert and ready with the full “armor of God” on so that when the enemy is scheming against us we can take our stand. 

And he does come against us. And we do get into battle with him. And when the battles seem too much we follow the example given in 1 Chronicles 5:19-22

God helped them

because they cried out to him 

He answered their prayers, 

because they trusted in him 

The enemy was defeated

because the battle was God’s

Application